Resort Thread Walt Disney World SWAN, DOLPHIN & SWAN RESERVE Resorts

[ckelly14]

I am trying to book 2 nights with Starwood points at either the Swan or Dolphin. One night is available and one isn't. Does availability ever open up? We are going in August and most of the month has availability except for that one night.

Is the Swan or Dolphin better to stay at? Does it matter?

Rooms will often open up when convention space doesn't fill, so keep trying!

I like both hotels but people have their preference. I like the Dolphin due to Picabu downstairs and the executive suites having an extra bed. However, the Swan has queen beds while the Dolphin has doubles.

 

[emilymad]

Rooms will often open up when convention space doesn't fill, so keep trying!

I like both hotels but people have their preference. I like the Dolphin due to Picabu downstairs and the executive suites having an extra bed. However, the Swan has queen beds while the Dolphin has doubles.

Thanks! There is no availability for any room at any price at either hotel for the dates I need. Very weird. I will keep trying.

 

[ckelly14]

Thanks! There is no availability for any room at any price at either hotel for the dates I need. Very weird. I will keep trying.

I'd have to say that is very common. I went the first week of June in 2014 and there was absolutely no availability the whole week trying to book in July 2013. However, I checked in February and there was availability at both hotels...

 

[Cloudy]

Looking for opinions on the Friday and Saturday seafood buffet at the Garden Grove. We are arriving at MCO at 6:30 PM on Saturday, May 7th. Just wondering if we should try the Garden Grove or eat cheaper outside the World on our way to check in?

Thanks to everyone on this thread. Staying at the Swan for the first time May 7th-11th, 2016. Prior stays were at OKW (rented points), POFQ, Hilton Downtown Disney, and Hilton Bonnet Creek. Looking forward to being able to walk to some of the parks at a price I can afford. We normally visit the parks early until mid afternoon then head back to the resort for pool time and rest, out to a TS restaurant for dinner and back to the hotel. Eating at all Epcot restaurants: Captain's Grill (new), Coral Reef (new), and Cape May (been before and like it). Excited only 2 weeks to go!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Welcome to the dis, Cloudy.

I have not had the Friday buffet, but here is the menu.

http://allears.net/dining/menu/garden-grove-cafe/dinner

Remember, discounts for AAA and TiW.

One thing that aggravates me on the Swan buffet, at the priced charged, you'd think they would be able to include a non-alcoholic beverage.

Other buffets have been good. And this one should include Chip n Dale.

 

[emilymad]

I'd have to say that is very common. I went the first week of June in 2014 and there was absolutely no availability the whole week trying to book in July 2013. However, I checked in February and there was availability at both hotels...

Thanks! I will keep checking. We are going in August and every day is available except 4 days and I just need 1 of those 4.

 

[kayteekt]

Hello! Checking in after our first S&D stay. Thank you all so much, this board was very helpful when planning.

We went 2nd week of April for 3 nights. Weather was perfect, crowds had died down after spring break, dolphin was gorgeous and the smell, what is that smell?!

My kids enjoyed the pool, the room was nice. We got a paid upgrade, i was under the impression the upgrade was offered complimentary, but i agreeed to it (room was on the end of hall and was a little bigger, we had 5 so more space was a plus). Supposed to be a TPV (could see ToT) but view was better in Jan at BWV with a pool view. Wouldn't have even thought about it, if i had not paid extra.

Anyway, need a little guidance. I knew the ambiance would be different then a disney resort. I knew it wouldn't have some of that disney feel. But it felt, well it more than felt, it was chaotic (esp lobby, pools and picabu). Tons of conference attendees, literally i think we saw one other family vacationing...the business people were less business like and more like college frat party like. My husband even witnessed a couple of hook ups. Very strange. It was horrible on our sat arrival, died down a little sun, but by monday another group was checking in, they seemed a little more calm, but all common areas were hectic. Also, lots of trays left out in hallway for days. I'm hoping this bad vibe (behavior) was just this certain group(s). Is it always like that? How is the swan in comparison, are there as many groups moving in and out?

I REALLY wanted to like!! I got the amex card and actually have enough points already for 3 nts at swan or 4 at dolphin. My husband says (and he's not as enthusiastic about all things disney) that he didn't like the layout, people, and non disney feel and doesn't care to go back...but wondered how the swan compares.

We had an Ann trip planned for late june and then a few nights before we do AKV in the fall. Torn on what we should do...

 

[BlueFairy]

Hello! Checking in after our first S&D stay. Thank you all so much, this board was very helpful when planning.

We went 2nd week of April for 3 nights. Weather was perfect, crowds had died down after spring break, dolphin was gorgeous and the smell, what is that smell?!

My kids enjoyed the pool, the room was nice. We got a paid upgrade, i was under the impression the upgrade was offered complimentary, but i agreeed to it (room was on the end of hall and was a little bigger, we had 5 so more space was a plus). Supposed to be a TPV (could see ToT) but view was better in Jan at BWV with a pool view. Wouldn't have even thought about it, if i had not paid extra.

Anyway, need a little guidance. I knew the ambiance would be different then a disney resort. I knew it wouldn't have some of that disney feel. But it felt, well it more than felt, it was chaotic (esp lobby, pools and picabu). Tons of conference attendees, literally i think we saw one other family vacationing...the business people were less business like and more like college frat party like. My husband even witnessed a couple of hook ups. Very strange. It was horrible on our sat arrival, died down a little sun, but by monday another group was checking in, they seemed a little more calm, but all common areas were hectic. Also, lots of trays left out in hallway for days. I'm hoping this bad vibe (behavior) was just this certain group(s). Is it always like that? How is the swan in comparison, are there as many groups moving in and out?

I REALLY wanted to like!! I got the amex card and actually have enough points already for 3 nts at swan or 4 at dolphin. My husband says (and he's not as enthusiastic about all things disney) that he didn't like the layout, people, and non disney feel and doesn't care to go back...but wondered how the swan compares.

We had an Ann trip planned for late june and then a few nights before we do AKV in the fall. Torn on what we see should do...

I really do think that it depends on the group. My husband has participated twice now in the SANS conference. They charge an arm and a leg for tuition to the event, so it keeps it to people who are very serious about being there. Lots of people bring families. We have never seen any hookup behavior, and the common areas were just fine both times. They also don't take up a lot of common areas for receptions and parties like I have seen others do, even though they book up the entire resort for 9 days. I did notice some sort of rude behavior with everyone breaking for lunch at the same time, but it was confined to 1 or 2 guests.

Another year we stayed at the BW I believe. That would have been a May trip. Gartner was there and they took up all of S/D and part of YC/BC. There were parties and receptions everywhere. It was a completely different vibe.

I am so sorry you experienced this. If you can stay for cheap or free, I would give it another try before writing it off. I would suggest different dates. Many conferences are annual and come at the same time each year.

 

[hsmamato2]

Welcome to the dis, Cloudy.

I have not had the Friday buffet, but here is the menu.

http://allears.net/dining/menu/garden-grove-cafe/dinner

Remember, discounts for AAA and TiW.

One thing that aggravates me on the Swan buffet, at the priced charged, you'd think they would be able to include a non-alcoholic beverage.

Other buffets have been good. And this one should include Chip n Dale.

So they have Chip and Dale on Fridays? so cool- do they take disney gift cards for payment here?

 

[hsmamato2]

I REALLY wanted to like!! I got the amex card and actually have enough points already for 3 nts at swan or 4 at dolphin. My husband says (and he's not as enthusiastic about all things disney) that he didn't like the layout, people, and non disney feel and doesn't care to go back...but wondered how the swan compares.

not sure about Swan, but the times we've stayed at Dolphin, we saw large conference groups (the bars at night were packed) but nothing that caused us any bother... we had no issues enjoying the pool areas,and the lobby for us was a place to walk thru on the way to our room, that said I've never seen anything concerning as far as behavior either I prefer it when there isn't a convention there,less crowded,etc in public areas, but I've never been impacted by attendees,ever. I've felt just as crowded on any 'disney' property,as well as been bothered by certain guests, I saw no difference at all. try it again is my advice, try swan if you want to compare...

 

[kayteekt]

I am so sorry you experienced this. If you can stay for cheap or free, I would give it another try before writing it off. I would suggest different dates. Many conferences are annual and come at the same time each year.

I'm leaning towards trying it again, we're really not overly particularly/hard to please. Just trying to gauge if this is their normal or if we just caught at a bad time with a bad group. Thanks for your insight!

 

[kayteekt]

not sure about Swan, but the times we've stayed at Dolphin, we saw large conference groups (the bars at night were packed) but nothing that caused us any bother... we had no issues enjoying the pool areas,and the lobby for us was a place to walk thru on the way to our room, that said I've never seen anything concerning as far as behavior either I prefer it when there isn't a convention there,less crowded,etc in public areas, but I've never been impacted by attendees,ever. I've felt just as crowded on any 'disney' property,as well as been bothered by certain guests, I saw no difference at all. try it again is my advice, try swan if you want to compare...

Thanks

 

[ckelly14]

I'm leaning towards trying it again, we're really not overly particularly/hard to please. Just trying to gauge if this is their normal or if we just caught at a bad time with a bad group. Thanks for your insight!

Unfortunately, the Swan and Dolphin are convention hotels (indeed, the convention hotels for Disney- that's how they were developed), and you will get much more of a business feel compared to a Disney feel. However, they are tough to beat when you accumulate as many Starpoints as we do. We recently stayed at the Beach Club, and if the price was anywhere close I would choose the Beach Club, but it's not anywhere close...

On the flip side, the pools are usually empty during the day as the other guest our in presentations/meetings, and you usually don't have to worry about dodging giant strollers or crying children. I think food across the board is better than most Disney hotels. Location is fantastic.

Try it one more time now that your expectations have been lowered a bit, and I'm sure you'll agree that for a free place to stay at Disney, it's pretty darned good!!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Keep in mind that the other convention hotels on property....Coronado Springs, Contemporary, Yacht Club, Beach Club and Boardwalk...all can have convention/business meetings and attendees anywhere and everywhere. That is a large portion of the bread and butter of those resorts.

In my many, many stays at the Swan (many more than the Dolphin), I have seen many conventions but have never felt intruded upon with them. The Swan is less busy than the Dolphin. At 758/1509, the sheer size of the Dolphin makes it more busy. One of the reasons I prefer the Swan. And I have never seen any hookups at either of the resorts, haha, nor any other hotel on property for that matter.

As for the hotel scents, the Dolphin would use the Sheraton's mixture of fig, bergamot, jasmine and freesia. Swan uses Westin's white tea, geranium and freesia. I really like both, both are quite welcoming and memorable for me.

And I must add that my very first experience of Disney World was actually a business convention at the Dolphin years ago. Over the years I did have a second convention visit, again at the Dolphin. It was that first visit and my huge enjoyment of that first visit that secured my initial love of the Disney experience, and it continues on today.

 

[pepperandchips]

Agree with Dan - the Swan seems to have less lobby hangout space so I have felt less of a convention presence there. I've never seen bad behavior or trays out for days (which grosses me out and I've seen it at other hotels so I feel like I would've noticed). I was upgraded for free once at the Dolphin and loved it in the upgraded room but otherwise I feel the Swan rooms are much nicer (especially now that they are renovated) and I am a general fan of the Westin hotel brand. That white tea scent just spells relaxation for me.

 

[JerseyJanice]

If you have points for free nights, Kaytee, I don't see how you can go wrong by giving the resort another try. What have you got to lose?

We stayed at the Dolphin in 2008, and now we are planning a trip in October and are booked for the Swan. I am super excited to be going there, so I'm stalking this thread. Dan, it is so great to "see" you still here. If I'm missing some of your awesome photographs of the Swan and Dolphin, please point me to where I can find them.

I haven't been to the World since 6/12. I'm trying to catch up on all changes since then and there seem to be a lot. New Fantasyland, Fast Pass Plus, new shows...

The planning is going to be so much fun.

 

[el_tigre]

Keep in mind that if you have enough points for four nights at the Dolphin, you actually have five, as the fifth night is free.

I personally much prefer the Swan to the Dolphin for many of the reasons listed above, but not sure I would pay the points premium needed. I value each Starpoint at 2.5 cents each. So to stay at the Swan over the Dolphin, you are basically spending an additional $50 worth of points per night (and actually much more than that if you are visiting during "peak" season).

All that said, although there is usually much more of a convention/business vibe to the S&D, I've never quite seen the raucous scene described by the OP. Given the points required for free nights at each property, I'd probably choose the Dolphin again and hope for the best.

 

[kayteekt]

Thank you all for your responses, i really do appreciate it. I know we'll def use our points for 1 more stay. I would love to try the Swan but that will just depend if my mother travels with us, as that bumps us to a party of 5. We really do appreciate the great location, we find it's a good value and take that into consideration when balancing expectations.
It was not a horrible trip or anything like that, we were just like...well, don't know if we'd choose this resort again, especially with the whole family. BUT we shall try again...hopefully at the swan in the fall

 

[kayteekt]

Keep in mind that if you have enough points for four nights at the Dolphin, you actually have five, as the fifth night is free.

Really?! How does that work?

 

[pepperandchips]

Thank you all for your responses, i really do appreciate it. I know we'll def use our points for 1 more stay. I would love to try the Swan but that will just depend if my mother travels with us, as that bumps us to a party of 5. We really do appreciate the great location, we find it's a good value and take that into consideration when balancing expectations.
It was not a horrible trip or anything like that, we were just like...well, don't know if we'd choose this resort again, especially with the whole family. BUT we shall try again...hopefully at the swan in the fall

For what it's worth I saw some of the behavior you described when I was staying at the yacht club (another convention). Also the trays issue there. But my room was so far from the YC lobby we joked we were actually staying at the dolphin and since then I haven't been able to stomach the cost of doing YC again with the Swolphin so close by.